Funnel.



J. G. euneas.

FUNNEL.

APPUCATIOH HLED AUG-12.1915

128192 4, Emma Dec. 17,1918.

INVENTOR I (la/1W6. flanges ATTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT onmo.

JOHN G. GUDGES, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FUNNEL.

Application filed August 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN G. GUDGEs, a subject of the King of Greece, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Funnels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to funnels and has particular reference to an indicating funnel.

As its primary object, it is contemplated by this invention to provide a funnel body with a depending tubular stem, the latter serving to inclose tubes which also depend from the body and which are in communication therewith for allowing liquids to pass from the body of a container, improved valve means being yieldingly mounted in the body for shiitting off the flow of the liquid when desired. It is also contemplated by this invention to mount a tube in the apex of the funnel body so as to guide the float operable indicating means and for guiding the valve during movement.

It is a more specific object of this invention to construct a spring handle that will normally hold the valve in a closed position but which can be raised to move the valve into an open position.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction in which the arrows point.

In the preferred embodiment about to be described, there is provided a funnel body having an inverted conical configuration and the wall thereof is provided with oppositely positioned openings 2 disposed adjacent the apex. Liquid conducting tubes 3 are connected with these openings and de- Jend from the body in spaced parallel re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Serial No. 114,569.

lation with each other. A tubular stem or sleeve at is placed to inclose the tubes 3 and in close relation therewith. The upper end of the tube is flared as at 5 and is soldered to the outer surface of the wall of the body. Of course, if desired the tubes 3 may be soldered or otherwise secured, to the inner surface of the tube t.

Then in use the tube or sleeve 1 is disposed within a container (not shown) that is to be filled, and in order to indicate to the person using the funnel that the container is about filled, there is provided suitable indicating means. This means consists of a guiding tube 6 that is rigidly mounted intermediate its ends in an opening 7 formed in the apex of the body. A rod 8 is slidably arranged in the tube and a float 9 is connected to the lower end thereof. This float is formed preferably of cork and as the liquid nears the top of the container the float 9 will move upwardly and consequently move the rod upwardly in the tube. An indicator head 10 is formed on the upper end of the rod and when the float is not in operation rests on the upper edge of the tube as is apparent upon reference to the drawings.

For the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid through the openings 2, I have provided a disk valve 11, that is provided with a central opening 12. Collars 13 are formed integral with the upper and lower surface of the disk and concentric with the opening 12. hen the valve is disposed on the tube 6, these collars cooperate with the tube in guiding the vertical movement of the valve. The outer edge of the valve 11 is beveled as at 14: so as to conform with and to seat upon the inner wall of the body. In order to lift the valve from its seat there is provided a spring handle 15. One portion of this handle is split and bent to provide a fork 16, the parts of which are arranged in spaced parallel relation with each other and rigidly connected as at 17 to the upper surface of the valve. It is to be noted that the fork portion 16 is straddled about the tube 6 and arranged in spaced relation with the upper end thereof to permit of movement of the rod 8. The outer end of the handle extends at right angles to the fork portion and is rigidly and suitably connected to the upper edge of the body.

The outer end of the handle 18 may be secured to the body through a bent end as shown. This bent portion may be soldered or otherwise secured to the tunnel in a manner that will retain this portion rigid relative to said funnel.

The operation of this invention is as tol lows When it is desired to fill a container or receptacle, one hand of the user is employed to raise the handle 18. its the handle 18 is formed of spring material the upward movement will cause the fork 16 to raise the valve 11. from its seating engagement with the inner surfaces of the tapering walls of the body 1. The liquid can now be poured into the body and pass through the openings 2 thence through the tubes 3 into a container. In order to indicate the amount of liquid that has entered the container the float 9 which is positioned within the container and inclosed by the tube a, will rise up to consequently force the head 10 from its normal position on the tube 6 thereby indicating to the user the fact that a suilicient quanti has been placed within the container, whereupon the handle 18 is released and because of the tension the valve will immediately engage its seat and shut off the tlow of liq uid through the tubes 3.

The tubes, being preferably spaced from each other permit the liquid to pass from the tunnel *ithout contacting with any or the working parts and therefore tends to keep the liquid free from foreign matter. At the same time liquid in passing outward during dispensing is prevented fl'OllLStllliing the float and thus the chances of a false indication are eliminated.

By providing a plurality of the tubes the liquid can more rapidly pass from the body than would be the case it only one tube were used.

Although 1 have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention I desire itto be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact detail shown, however, I desire that great stress be laid upon the arrangement of the tube which serves to guide and maintain the indicating means in position and which also serves to guide the valve during movement. Attention is also directed to the arrangement of the tube a the water conducting tubes and the indicating means. 7

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction con- Leane /4 taining but atew simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my inventlGlL, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A funnel comprising an approximately cone-shaped body having an opening in the apex and openings adjacent the apex, a spout secured to the body to encircle the openings a sleeve extending through the a pexopening with the upper end within the body and the lower end within the spout, a rod extending through the sleeve, a float on the lower end of the rod below the end of the sleeve, an enlargement on the upper end of the rod adapted to normally engage the upper end of the sleeve a valve slida-ble on the upper end of the sleeve and adapted to normally engage the interior of the body above the openings and means for raising the valve.

*2. A funnel comprising an approximately cone-shaped body having an opening in the apex and openings adjacent the apex, a spout secured to the body to encircle the openings tubes secured within the spout and conununicating with the openings adjacent the apex, a sleeve extending through the apex opening with the upper end within the body and the lower end within the spout, a rod extending through the sleeve, a float on the lower end of the rod below the end or the sleeve, an enlargement on the upper end of the rod adapted to normally engage the upper end of the sleeve, a valve slidable on the upper end of the sleeve and adapted to normally engage the interior of the body above the openings, and means for raisin the valve In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN G. GUDGES.

Tx itnesses RICHARD Mncoixn, Louis ALHERTI.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner oi Eatents. Washington, D. G. 

